Private Cecil Watts Lipsham 29569 - 16th Bn Canadian Infantry (Canadian Scottish)
Cecil was originally from London but left England to work for a bank in Vancouver, Canada.
When war broke out, he was determined to fight for his country and enlisted in the 16th Bn Canadian Infantry in Vancouver on 23rd August 1914. He arrived with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in England in October 1914, they were then sent on to Salisbury Plain. In December Cecil and the Canadians were on the move again this time to Lark Hill camp.
On February 11th, 1915, the entire Battalion were placed aboard the transport ship “Maidan” at Avonmouth bound for France. In April 1915 Cecil and his comrades took part in the Second Battle of Ypres, which was the first time chlorine gas was used and the first time it was employed on such a scale. Sadly, during that battle Cecil was mortally wounded and was admitted to 84th Field Ambulance, where he died of his wounds on 1st May 1915.
Cecil was 23 years old when he died and he is remembered with honour at the Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Lest We Forget this brave young man...
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